in syria, romney would get the rebels heavy weapons, despite the administration's fear they'll end up in the hands of al qaeda. and romney claimed he'd be tougher on iran about nuclear weapons. >> this is a dangerous situation. >> reporter: romney said president obama's making it more dangerous by resisting israeli prime minister netanyahu, aapparently willingness to attack iranian nuke plants. >> i know the president hopes for a safer, freer, middle east, i share this hope. but hope is not a strategy. >> reporter: romney's remarks, said one expert, are not a strategy. >> he tried to sound very tough in his critique of barack obama today. however, those are mostly rhetorical differences on some of those key foreign policy issues as opposed to actual new tough policies. >> reporter: the president fired back in an ad to run in virginia. >> reckless, amateurish, vaes what news media and fellow republicans stance. >> reporter: president obama ignored mitt romney's speech. >> reporter: mad elaine called it shallow and out of date. >>> there have been ups and downs with the start of postsea